Episode Summary
Gu Pingyuan gives away his tea secrets to help the locals before heading to the front lines at Hefei. He negotiates a surrender with the rebel leader Li Cheng to save starving civilians. However, the Qing generals Qiao and Bao have ulterior motives. They trick the surrendering troops and get Gu drunk to cover up their corruption. Gu realizes too late that the generals never intended for him to survive the mission.
Spoiler Alert
Legend of the Magnate Episode 22 Recap
Gu Pingyuan’s Generosity
Gu Pingyuan is done holding grudges. He hands over the "Number One Tea in the World" plaque to the Anhui Tea Merchant Guild. This is the same plaque Cixi gave him. He doesn't stop there. He gives the secret Lan Xue tea recipe to Old Master Hu for free. Old Master Hu is thrilled. He swears to make the brand famous. Gu has a simple goal. He wants the people of Anhui to get rich.
The Road to War
The people of Shanjian Village love the Gu brothers. They build a memorial archway to honor Gu Pingyuan and Gu Pingwen. The Village Chief is extremely grateful. But peace doesn't last. Qiao Song drags Gu Pingyuan to the front lines at Hefei. Qiao dreams of military glory. Gu just wants to save civilians from the crossfire.
A Surprise Visit
Su Zixuan sneaks up on Gu Pingyuan. He is startled. He tries to call for guards. It is too late. Su has his place surrounded. They talk business. Gu wants Su to convince Li Cheng to surrender Hefei. He wants to spare the innocent people. Su says Li has no way out. Gu makes an offer. He will help Li escape if he gives up the city.
The Generals’ Scheme
Qiao takes Gu to the army camp. General Bao Qing throws a banquet. Gu asks when the attack starts. Bao has a cruel plan. He wants to starve the city until the soldiers are too weak to fight. Gu hates this idea. He worries about the civilians. He uses Empress Dowager Cixi’s name to pressure the generals. Qiao steps in. He tells Bao to attack soon. Gu volunteers to enter the city and negotiate a surrender.
Bao and Qiao are playing a dangerous game. They work for Prince Gong. Cixi hates the Prince. Qiao is afraid of offending Gu. He tells Bao to keep Gu in the camp. If the negotiation fails, they will blame Gu for everything.
A Quiet Night
Gu goes home late. His brother Pingwen is waiting. Pingwen hopes to see Gu in official robes. Gu is still wearing plain clothes. He visits his mother. He tells her he asked Prince Gong to find his father. She tears up. Gu stays by her side for the night.
Inside the Besieged City
Gu arrives at Hefei the next morning. Soldiers let him in. Then they tackle him. They bag his head and drag him to the mansion. He meets Bai Yimei first. He begs her to convince Li Cheng to surrender. She can't make that call.
Li Cheng finally shows up. The situation is dire. He offers Gu a single peanut. He asks Bai Yimei to bring their last bottle of wine. Gu tells him to leave. Li says he is a dead man walking. If he leaves, the Qing soldiers or his own rivals will kill him.
The Surrender
Li drinks a toast to Gu. He agrees to open the gates at dawn. He won't let the people starve. Bai Yimei wants to die with him. Li gets angry when Gu mentions his soldiers. He wants to prove his men aren't cowards.
Li addresses his troops. He gives them a choice. They can leave with Gu and go home. Civilians and some rebels stream out of the city. Gu and Li watch from the tower.
The Trap Closes
Qiao and Bao enter Hefei. They order the surrendering soldiers to the North Camp. The soldiers protest. They want to go home. The Qing troops draw their weapons. Gu steps in to stop the violence. Qiao lies. He claims it is just for temporary housing and haircuts. Gu senses something is wrong. The generals don't give him time to think. They drag him away to drink.
The Ugly Truth
Bai Yimei finds Li on the tower. Li is worried about Gu. He finally sees the truth. Qiao and Bao never wanted to attack. They kept the siege going to demand money and grain from the court. They are thieves.
Back at the banquet, the generals get Gu drunk. Gu can't handle his liquor. But his mind is clear. He accuses them of plotting against him. He knows they didn't want him to come back alive. The generals look at each other in fear. Gu has figured them out.
